Nissan LEAF becomes London Taxi

Nissan has been ferrying Londoners and tourists round the capital in the Nissan LEAF EV free of charge as part of its ‘Big Turn On’ campaign. Yesterday we reported that a Nissan LEAF was going to go backwards up the hillcimb at Goodwood in a bid for a reversing speed record, and to draw attention to the LEAF’s strengths as part of Nissan’s ‘Big Turn On’ campaign. We’re not too sure how being able to go backwards as quickly as you can forwards in a LEAF is a big selling point, but Nissan’s stunt in London this week is far more relevant – they’ve been offering fee taxi rides in the electric LEAF to tourists and Londoners alike.

New Audi RS6 to get 572bhp V8

The 2013 Audi RS6 looks set to swap its V10 for the new Audi V8 with the wick turned up to 572bhp – the same as the old V10. Most of the new A6 range has now arrived in showrooms – including the S6 and Avant – but what’s still missing is a new RS6, the Audi that used to have the heart of a Lamborghini. But as we reported in April, the 2013 RS6 is well on the way but it will be losing its Lamborghini V10 with its 5.2 litres and 572bhp and will instead get the Audi/Bentley twin-turbo 4.0 litre V8.

Briefs all in for Car Design Awards China 2014

It's exactly a month since the fifth annual Car Design Awards China's launch and we're pleased to announce all the briefs are in. Created to discover the latest crop of Chinese design talent, this year's contest – open to full-time students studying a design discipline of any kind in China – features briefs from Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Geely, JAC, Qoros and UD Trucks. Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz has asked participants to study the average Chinese family, their lifestyle and habits and design the most suitable Mercedes-Benz car concept imaginable for them in the future.